By By JEFF FISHER / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – Despite having three players in double figures, host Cassopolis was no match for the visiting Niles Lady Vikings Monday night in girls' varsity basketball.
The Lady Vikings' Lindsay Craig came into the game averaging 6.5 points per game, but erupted for a career-high 25 points and canned four 3-pointers as Niles improved to 4-3 on the season with a 68-47 non-conference victory.
"She was in a zone with the 3-pointers," Niles coach Jim Arnold said of Craig. "When she is in a rhythm, she is a deadly shooter for us. It was a good thing to see here step up for us. I think we relaxed a little bit in the second quarter when they made a run at us, fortunately we were able to hold them off. I thought we shot the ball well and made some good passes."
Niles took control of the game by jumping out to a 10-2 lead halfway through the first period, but after two buckets by Cass' Taira Williams and a hoop by Michelle James, the home team trailed 14-11 after one.
Niles' Autumn Lucero opened up a 30-18 lead, but back-to-back buckets by James and Damonica Kelly, put the Rangers down 36-25 at the break.
The third quarter was the "Lindsay Craig Show." Craig poured in 12 third quarter points on two 3-pointers and three baskets, as Niles extended its lead to 56-39.
"I was excited, but not excited. I think we could have done more offensively. I am happy with the win, don't get me wrong. I think we did a nice job against a good Cassopolis team," Arnold said.
Lucero and Kaitlyn Touhey each had eight points respectively.
"Their size was a problem for us, we are kind of small, we didn't box out well and anytime you go up against a good ball club like Niles, you have to do the little things and we didn't do them," Ranger coach Floyd Foston said. "We have some girls that can knock them down, but that is not going to win us every ballgame. Niles is a good club and we knew that is was going to be tough for us.
"I think the girls gave it the best they could and they competed," Foston added.
Williams led the Lady Rangers with 17 points. James, who went down in the third quarter with a possible ACL or MCL tear, added 16.
Cassopolis falls to 3-4 on the season, while.
The Lady Vikings are back in action on Friday as they host Kalamazoo Loy Norrix in a Big 16 non-divisional contest.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
NILES 68
Courtney Teske 1 1-4 3, Nichole Sly 3 0-0 6, Baysia Cox 2 4-4 8, Kaitlyn Touhey 1 6-6 8, Lindsay Craig 9 3-3 25, Kaleigh Hill 2 0-0 4, Nathalie Lund 0 2-2 2, Gabrielle Ezell 0 0-0 0, Autumn Lucero 2 4-8 8, Alyssa Pingel 0 0-0 0, Rachel Smith 0 0-0 0, Jenna Grannell 2 0-0 4. Totals: 22 20-27 68
CASSOPOLIS 47
Kenya House 0 1-2 1, Tiffany Williams 0 2-2 2, Taira Williams 6 1-2 17, Robin Danzy 0 0-0 0, Damonica Kelly 4 1-4 10, Michelle James 5 4-5 16, Taletha Andrews 0 0-0 0, Keondra Williams 0 1-2 1, Victoria Robison 0 0-3 0. Totals: 15 10-20 47
Niles 14 22 20 22 – 68
Cassopolis 11 13 14 12 – 47
3-point baskets: Craig (N) 4, Taira Williams (C) 4, James (C) 2, Kelly (C). Total fouls: Niles 19, Cassopolis 19. Fouled out: None. Records: Niles 4-3, Cassopolis 3-4